The Washington critic., 1887-01-11
STEALING A MILLION.

uNnkcr on inc lLnc St. Augustine
Paris. February 8, 1860, an elderly
lady In widows weeds, accompanied
by ayoung man about 90 years of age.
who walked with a cru,ch and stick,
alighted from carriage at the door of
Monsieur Bouloy's office, which they
entered.
The lady, who was shown into the
private room OF the principal, intro
duced herself as the widow of Mon.
seur Dupcrre and the young man as
her son Henri. She assisted the young
man to sit down in comfortable po-
siton, saying
MY son, Monsieur, has the misfor.
tune to bo lame, owing to an injury he
received when child"
Monsieur Bohloy expressed regret
tnd asked the lady how he could serve
her.
my late husband she replied,
"left some valuable stocks, and | am
anxious to dispose of part of them.
My physician. DR.. Tocauier, recon-.
mended me TO apply TO you as gentle.
man OF honor and one well acquainted
with the best methods of transacting
such business, and was good enough to
send us hithcr in his coupe"
Monsieur Bouloy bowed and assured
the lady that 1t wouli-give him great
pleasure to aid her in any way In his
power. He glanced through the win.
dow and recognized the handsome bays
and the livery Of the famous physician.
These" she continued, drawing
forth large envelope from her rcti-
c,le, "are what thought of parting
with at the present.
II regret to say, madame" he said,
"that at present this stock is selling far
below par. may inform you, how.
ever, that it Is liable at any time to
take rise"
"That is just it, NJ nsieur," she
said; land ! desire you TO keep it by
you until such time as you think it
judicious to sell"
After some talk Monsieur Bouloy
opened the safe and placed the envelope
with its contents therein. While he
was so occupied the young man gave a
groan The lady arose hastily and
cried
Dear me, another of those dreadful
fitsr'
Monsieur Bouloy turned and saw the
lady with her arm around the neck OF
the youth, gazing with fearful eye and
an expression of anguish upon her
countenance at the closed eyes and
drawn face of her son.
"Ah it is very sad, madame" he
said. "What can do for your"
"Oh, Monsieur" was the answer, "if
you could procure him glass of
brandy II would speedily restore him."
II will do so with pleasure" he re.
piled, and quilted the room, going into
the adjoining one and directing a
young clerk to get the restorative.
Then he returned to the private apart.
ment and said that he had dispatched
an employe for the brandy. 1t was
speedily brought, and the young man
o revived soon after few drops had
been swallowed. Then, with many
thanks and expressions Of gratitude,
the widow and her son withdrew, being
accompanied 10 the carriage by Mon
sieur Bouloy. Monsieur Bouloy re.
turned to his sanctum, locked his safe
and attended to further business.
Next day Monsieur Plat visited
Monsieur Bouloy, and the latter gen.
tleman, knowing that the former had
short time before held q large amount
of the stock which Nine. Dupcrrc de.
sired to sell, asked his visitor what he
had done with 1t.
"Why," said he, II hold 1t still,
and should be glad to have more
of It,"
Then Monsieur Bouloy said he had
large quantity of 1t to sell, and Mon.
sieur Plat asked to see 1t. Monsieur
Bouloy opened his safe and took out
the envelope. On opening it his aston.
ishment was great when he found in
side a lot Of blank scrip,
"What means this?" he exclaimed,
as he examined the worthless stuff
Then lie turned toward the safe, and
began nervously to remove its contents
Il am robbed II he cried. Robbed
of over million francs in notes of the
Bank Of France. | was directed by
General - TO realize for him on val
liable securities aud to keep the pro.
ceeds at hand to give hin al mo.
ment's notice, and | am robbed Of all.
am ruined mani
"Have you no clew 10 the theft"
asked Monsieur Plat.
II am dazed-I cannot think" was
The answer. Il will at once consult
the police. beg that you will at say
nothing of the affair TO any one"
Monsieur Plat pledged his word
readily, and the gentlemen quilted the
Office together, Monsieur BOuloy going
straight to the prefecture of police, and
laying his statement before the police
there. Roquepine, a famous detective,
was called in, and all the facts were
disclosed to him.
ut is all very clear to me, Monsieur" 4"
said the detective. Mime. Duperre
and her son are the thieves, without
doubt, The fainting fit was a ruse, and
the request for brandy was made with
the hope that you would quit the room
and leave them alone with the safe.
The groan and the fit came on Just as
you had placed the envelope in the safe
and before you had time to secure it.
envelope was substituted for the one in
the safe, and the package of money was
abstracted."
But how did the thieves know the
money was thercy" asked NJ Bouoy.
"At present this is hard to say, but
by.and.b by the question may bc an
swcred, 4" the detective replied.
But they came in DIR. Tocanler's 5
coupe" said the broker, land said they
were recommended to me by him. He
is my physician and an intimate
friend
After further talk NJ. Bouloy de-
parted, and soon after his arrival at
his office he was joined by ROquepinc.
The latter examined the safe, listened
anew to the recital of all the facts, and
departed,
lie first went to the residence of DR..
Tocanier and found that gentleman at